Sam Ryder falls foul of TV regulators after sparking chaos in This Morning studio
“I’m sure we just broke 20 rules doing that!” Sam Ryder faces off with TV regulators after causing chaos at This Morning studio by using a live interview as a sales pitch for a Christmas number one
Sam Ryder clashed with television regulators on Thursday after urging This Morning viewers to stream songs from his new album and give it a Christmas number one.
The former vegan cafe owner turned singer-songwriter is in the midst of a festive promotional campaign following the December 9 release of his debut album, There’s Nothing But Space, Man!
And Ryder, 33, caused a momentary panic among ITV producers after This Morning co-hosts Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary allowed him to address viewers directly during his latest interview.
Awkward: Sam Ryder clashed with television regulators on Thursday after urging This Morning viewers to stream songs from his new album and give him a Christmas number one
The singer, who narrowly missed out on becoming Britain’s first Eurovision Song Contest winner since 1997 in May, took the opportunity to beg for a number one after finding out it is currently atop the UK chart.
“If you’ve enjoyed anything this year, you can support us,” he urged viewers. “We are currently number one, but we are not sitting on a sofa, comfortable at number one.
There is a race on. We can do this. We need your support. This is our chance, please help us.’
Misstep: Ryder caused a momentary panic among ITV producers after This Morning co-hosts Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary allowed him to address viewers directly.
Buy This Now: Brandishing a vinyl copy of his new album, the singer urged fans to buy it before weekend sales are counted in hopes of landing a Christmas number one.
Wasting no time: The singer jumped at the chance to beg for a number one after finding out it’s currently at the top of the UK chart.
Brandishing a vinyl copy of his new album and urging fans to buy it before weekend sales are counted, he added: “Grab this album before midnight tonight.” Download it on Amazon or iTunes and let’s make it happen. Love you.’
Mindful of the potential breach of streaming guidelines, Dermot quipped, “I’m sure we just broke like 20 rules doing that!”
“Yeah, we’ve done it, we absolutely have,” Ryder said, before pointing to the producers off-camera by running a hand across his throat and adding, “I can see people going like that…”
Peace: Ryder posed for photographers backstage at ITV studios after his interview
Fans were equally divided over Ryder’s attempt to put his own album at number one – an apparent breach of transmission protocol and a potential red flag for television and radio regulator Ofcom.
On Twitter, one aggrieved viewer wrote: ‘ME ME ME ME ME’.
However, many were drawn to Ryder’s upbeat personality, with one commenting, “I’m a pessimist, but Sam Ryder’s positivity is contagious.”
While a second added: “I see a lot of Twitter users motivated by Sam Ryder’s positivity and optimism. How sad.’
A third wrote: “I’m so pleased for Sam Ryder and his success, he really is a genuinely lovely gentleman and guy, I hope he gets number one.”
Another posted: I honestly think we should have a daily national address from Sam Ryder instead of Breakfast Tv. We would all be hopping into work and grinning from ear to ear. What a cheerful guy!